USAHS Marigold
USAHS Marigold in Tacoma, WA on 10 June 1944 following her commissioning ceremony as a US Army Hospital Ship.
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| Name: | Old North State |
| Owner: | US Shipping Board |
| Operator: | United States Mail Steamship Company |
| Port of registry: | US |
| Route: | New York - London |
| Builder: | New York Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Cost: | $4,084,695.58 |
| Yard number: | 244 |
| Laid down: | 20 March 1919 |
| Launched: | 29 February 1920 |
| Acquired: | 21 October 1920 |
| In service: | 1920 |
| Fate: | Transferred to US Lines 1921 |
| Name: |
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| Operator: | United States Lines |
| Acquired: | 1921 |
| Fate: | Sold to Dollar Line 1924 |
| Notes: | Renamed upon conversion to all Cabin Class |
| Name: | President Van Buren |
| Operator: | Dollar Steamship Company |
| Acquired: | 1924 |
| Out of service: | laid up 1936 |
| Fate: | Transferred to American President Lines 1938 |
| Name: | President Fillmore |
| Operator: | American President Lines |
| Acquired: | 1938 |
| In service: | 1940 |
| Out of service: | October 1943 |
| Fate: | Acquired by War Shipping Administration December 1941 operated by American President Lines as agent. |
| Notes: | Transferred to hospital ship service |
| Name: | USAHS Marigold |
| Acquired: | October 1943 |
| In service: | 19 July 1944 |
| Out of service: | 8 June 1946 |
| Fate: | Laid up at Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Design 1095 ship known commercially as "502" Type |
| Tonnage: | 10,533 |
| Displacement: | 13,100 |
| Length: | |
| Beam: | 62 ft (19m) |
| Draft: | 31ft 9in |
| Installed power: | triple expansion steam |
| Propulsion: | twin screw |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Crew: | 92 |
| Armament: | (as wartime transport) Two 3" 50 cal. Anti-aircraft guns, two .50 cal. Browning machine guns, and two .30 cal. Lewis machine guns |
USAHS Marigold was a United States Army hospital ship during WWII. The ship was built as Old North State in 1920 for the United States Shipping Board as a civilian passenger/cargo liner. The ship changed ownership and operating companies several times with name changes to President Van Buren and President Fillmore before being acquired for military transport service in 1941. After government acquisition during World War II President Fillmore served as a War Shipping Administration troop transport before conversion to hospital ship service.
Old North State was one of seven, after a contract adjustment from an original thirteen, Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1095 passenger/cargo ships, later more frequently known in the industry as the "502" type for the design length of 502 feet (153.0 m) between perpendiculars, ordered in 1919 by the United States Shipping Board to be constructed at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey. The design had been for troop transports until signing of the armistice ending World War I made completion as civilian passenger and cargo ships desirable. New York Shipbuilding had the contract for all seven of the "502" class and nine of the "535" class, an order requiring expansion and construction of the company's South Yard, that were to be delivered to the United States Shipping Board (USSB).
Originally named Old North State, in honor of the state of North Carolina, the ship was launched 29 February 1920, sponsored by Miss. Magoun, daughter of the shipbuilder's Vice-President.
The vessel accommodated 78 passengers, all first class. A contemporary report of her sea trials describes the vessel’s appointments:
Old North State entered New York-London service under the operation of the United States Mail Steamship Company. Her service as an all-first class liner, was not to last one year. The shipping company suffered massive financial loss and by August 1921 the ships were returned to the US Shipping Board and a new shipping company was formed.
By 10 May 1922 all the "State" ships with names based on state nicknames were being renamed as "President" ships.
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